Category Archives: Gavin A Go Go’s Vault Of Horror

Installment number 6 in our series of horror-thriller movie write-ups. Written by Gavin A Go Go. This is The Invisible Man. Released in 1933.

The Lions Head Inn is in full swing, all fun and frolics. In walks a stranger, wrapped up head to toe and eyes covered with some peculiar glasses. The place goes quiet. The man demands a room be made up for him. Once shown to his accommodation he insists on absolute privacy.

Months later after falling behind on his rent and damages to the room he is asked to leave the inn. The landlord starts to clear the strangers equipment and this angers the tenant. A struggle develops between the two men resulting in the guest throwing the landlord down the stairs.

A police led mob try to apprehend the stranger but that’s the last straw! He throws his nose at them, then removes the glasses and takes off his bandages revealing that he is invisible. Laughing like a looney he removes all his clothes making him undetectable. The mob try to capture the man, but he easily escapes causing lighthearted chaos through the village.

This man is Jack Griffin, A scientist who months earlier left his hometown leaving only a note behind telling his mentor Dr Cranley, his partner Dr Kemp and his fiancee Flora Cranley that he has skipped town to carry out some experiments. He has gone in to hiding to try and develop an antidote to a previous experiment. An experiment that turned him invisible. This came to fruition while mixing a few simple chemicals, one of which is monocane. While this chemical may be the key to his invisibility, unbeknown to him, it is also making him insane.

Turning up at his former partner Dr Kemps house. Demanding warmth and clothing Griffin goes on to tell Kemp of how he came across his discovery and evil plans for murder and world domination and insists on Kemps partnership in his cause, but first they must return to the village to get Jacks notebooks.

Once Jack has his books, back at the Inn, the police are trying to get to the bottom of what they believe to be a hoax, only to become the subject of ridicule and ultimately death at the hands of Griffin. The doctors then make haste back to Kemps dwellings. Now the law begin to take the village seriously and start a nation wide search for the transparent mad man.

At Kemps house, Griffin retires for the night. Kemp takes this opportunity to go in to his study, lock the door and contact Dr Cranley and the police to let them know where the Invisible man is. During this time Flora learns of Jacks condition and insists on seeing him that very night.

Still in the study Griffin demands that Kemp unlock the door and forces him to go to bed. Passing a window Jack sees a car pull up. Initially thinking it’s the police he soon realises that it is his beloved and mentor. Insisting on seeing Flora alone he goes to prepare himself. While telling her of his motive of the experiment the megalomaniac goes on a rant of power during which he see’s the police approaching the house. Learning of his partners betrayal he promises Kemp that he will meet his maker at 10 o’clock the next night and scarpers.

Under interrogation about the Cranleys involvement in the case the police quickly learn the true identity of their fugitive.

On the run Griffin wreaks havoc of daylight robbery, carnage and an orgy of murder. How will they stop THE INVISIBLE MAN!!!!!!!

Adapted from H.G Wells’ sci-fi novel, Universal Studios released this great piece of cinema in 1933. Boris Karlof was first choice for the lead, but turned it down as he would have very little screen time, so he lost out Brixton born Claude Rains in his first American screen appearance. Rains got the part due to James Whale accidentally hearing Rains screen testing played in another room.

Director James Whale was also the force behind Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. Openly gay, which was virtually unheard of at the time, there is a myth that Whale claims to have The Invisible Man get totally undressed in the mob scene so as to get one over on the censorship comity by having a man fully disrobe on screen.

I honestly didn’t think I would enjoy this film as much as I did/do (I have watched at least 5 times since). It has very high camp factor and at times reminded me of Blackbeard’s Ghost meets Benny Hill, especially the scene where the mob are running around trying to arrest the shirt and the bike.

The effects are truly amazing for the time, hold up extremely well and are often said to have made the film as successful as it was.

The script is fantastic.

We’ll begin with a reign of terror, a few murders here and there, murders of great men, murders of little men – well, just to show we make no distinction. I might even wreck a train or two… just these fingers around a signalman’s throat, that’s all.

Is my personal favourite quote.

The thing I liked about this most was the cast, Everyone from the lead to the Policeman. My favourite would have to be the Landlady, shrill over exaggerated, almost ridiculous at times.

The Invisible Man t-shirt is absolutely perfect, brilliant colour, font and choice of images absolutely nail it. Grab yours now before they disappear!

It’s Friday the 13th again! Here is installment number 5 in our series of horror-thriller movie reviews. Written by Gavin A Go Go. This is Dementia 13. All the 13’s! Released in 1963.

On the eve of his sisters memorial service at the families ancestral Irish castle, John Holoran takes his greedy wife Louise for a boat ride on the same pond where his little sister, Kathleen drowned six years earlier. While strenuously rowing and arguing about his mothers will, John suffers a fatal heart attack. Realising she will inherit nothing if John was to die before his mother Lady Holoran, Louise covers up his death, throwing the body overboard and convincing the family that he had to return to New York, while she is to stay behind to acquaint herself with her extended family.

During her visit with the not exactly welcoming in-laws, Louise discovers more about the death of young Kathleen which she uses to devise a heinous scheme to get on Lady Holorans good side. While helping her mother in law recover from passing out during the ceremony, Louise manages to convince Lady Holoran that she is able to communicate with her late daughter.

Under the cover of darkness, Louise sets her elaborate ploy in to motion. Although she makes a lot of noise, her plan seems to be going as intended. Outside she continues putting all of the pieces of her puzzle in place. Once completed she discovers something out of the ordinary. Scared, she rushes to get back to the castle, but an axe wielding looney makes himself known by attacking and ultimately murdering the gold digger.

Dining at the pond one of Louise’s tricks comes in to fruition and Lady Holoran believes it is a sign from her daughter. That night mother goes to where she thinks all the signs lead, only to be attacked by the same madman which sets him off on a furious rampage picking off the family one by one; but who is it?

After his uncredited horror directional debut, The Terror with Roger Corman, Francis Ford Coppola went on to conceive, write and direct this brilliant example of early horror with Corman as producer. Without any direct references Francis is clearly influenced by Alfred Hithcock, but has taken that influence to construct his own “who done it?” chiller in his own unique style. Creating this film on a shoestring budget of just $20,000, a rushed shooting schedule and Coopola only being 22 at the time, it’s no wonder he went on to be one of the most influential directors of all time.

Right form the outset of this flick you get an enormous feeling of animosity and lack of trust between most of the characters which makes for an uneasy 75 minutes, but great viewing. Hooked in straightaway the tension built up nicely to the first kill, with subsequent attacks spaced out nicely making the film move at a perfect pace. Without feeling any connection or remorse for any of the characters, I couldn’t wait to see who got the axe next but was a little disappointed with the amount of deaths. There wasn’t a great deal of gore either, but I didn’t expect it to really.

A personal favourite scene in this film is where Louise is about to set up her pond prank. She breaks in to Kathleen’s room to take some toys some of which start so move (they are wind up, not possessed) and they are lit in a very menacing way which looks incredible, ensuring a sense of dread.

Each individuals purpose and actions give the otherwise simple story a lot more depth which is a great example of how to tell a tale.

Right through to the end you have no idea who the killer actually is. The family is so dysfunctional and the other characters come across creepy and sometimes armed, they all have a motive to kill.

The t-shirt depicts our leading lady Louise, just about to meet her maker in full colour print, done in an amazing classic horror style with a great perspective angle including the creepy castle giving it more dimension. By now some of you will know one of my favourite things in movies and especially 50’s/60’s horror is the marketing gimmicks that come with them and the wording on this hilarious. It’s perfect!

As it’s Friday the 13th we figure a new horror movie post is a good idea. Here we have the 4th post in our series of classic horror movie homage. Written by our buddy Gavin A Go Go. This is Frankenstein. Released in 1931.

Dr Henry Frankenstein is a man obsessed with the idea of bringing life to a monster that he created using body parts from the recently deceased. He obtains the parts by robbing graves and execution sites. Along with his helper Fritz (prick) he constructs the experiment in the basement of a disused windmill.

After Fritz fumbles the acquisition of a brain and gets the wrong one, he returns to the windmill where the organ is placed into the human jigsaw.

Under the watchful eyes of his concerned father; Elizabeth his fiancee and one Dr Waldman; Frankenstein triggers the experiment. After a short while they are amazed to see that it actually worked.

Whilst being kept in the cellar the monster seems obedient and understands simple direction. Suddenly the antagonistic Fritz charges in with a torch ablaze. Frustrated, the monster begins to lash out and attacks Dr Waldman. The others manage to restrict the monster and lock him away to relative safety.

As the two doctors discuss what must be done Fritz decides to pay a visit to the detained and again begins to provoke and annoy the monster which dose not end well (for Fritz, I was glad). Frankenstein and Waldman finally agree that the monster must be destroyed.

Dr Waldman offers to terminate the monster himself but while doing so it escapes. After an unfortunate incident with a young girl the town’s people begin to form angry mobs and watched on by the females of the town the mobs set out to bring Frankenstein’s creation to justice.

There is a reason why this film remains as popular as ever. It’s truly brilliant! The sets look so good and the acting is fantastic. I like Baron Frankenstein the most, but that is mainly down to his immense whistle tooth. Where the music usually sets the tone in most horrors, the noticeable lack of it particularly in the most pivotal scenes is really unnerving.

This is a classic and definitive horror film that spawned many sequels and reworkings, even comedies such as Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein. Along with all of these story-of-Frankenstein based films came tonnes of merchandise in the form of T-Shirts, hoodies, bags, hats and all manner of apparel. This can be said from when it was made to the present day with no sign of it slowing up. Which brings me to this great looking Frankenstein T-Shirt from Plan 9 Clothing. Where on other Frankenstein Tee’s you would just get a single colour, this photo print really stands out and puts others in their place. This is a must for all fans and collectors alike. I can’t wait to get my hands on one!

The 3rd post in our series of classic horror movie worship by our pal Gavin A Go Go. This is House On Haunted Hill. Released in 1959.

I thought as I mentioned William Castel in my review of The Screaming Skull that it would be fitting to do another of his films and what better than The House On Haunted Hill staring the brilliant Vincent Price.

Eccentric millionaire Frederick Loren (Price) invites five apparent strangers to a haunted house for a “ghost party” (not too sure what that is, but I really want to go to one) for his wife. Each of the guests have been informed they will receive ten thousand dollars in return for their attendance. They each arrive by funeral cars and at this point Loren narrates the reasons for them attending (they desperately need the money mainly). One of the guests, Watson Pritchard is also the owner of the house. He inherited it from his brother, who was murdered (along with several others) at said house. Watson had stayed in the house once before and claims that he only just survived, but doesn’t go into much detail of his ordeal.

As soon as they arrive at the mansion, strange things start to happen. A door slams, a chandelier swings and falls, narrowly missing young Nora Manning. One of the guests who works for one of Loren’s company’s and needs the money as she is the sole earner for her family.

After the guests have calmed down with a drink, the host finally makes an appearance and goes into more detail about the evenings events. They soon learn that in order to claim their ten grand they are required to be locked in overnight with no chance of leaving until 8am the next day. Each have until midnight to make their decision. While all of this is going on Pritchard is telling everyone how unsafe the house is, the ghosts have been awoken and that everyone should leave immediately. It becomes apparent that the man likes his booze, so very little notice is taken.

The strangers take a tour lead by Pritchard, as he is familiar with the house and it’s history. He shows the locations of where the murders took place and the grizzly stories behind them. The group is lead to the cellar where they are shown a trap door. The lid is lifted and a vat of acid is revealed. We are told that this is where one of the murders took place.
(The acid seems to dissolve only the flesh leaving the bones and we are given a demonstration of this by use of a dead rat ha ha ha)

As Midnight approaches more and more strange things happen, particularly to Nora, who pretty much gets the brunt of it. Miss Manning is determined that she is going to leave, but before she has a chance…. its too late! The care takers have left and locked up 5 minutes early. There is no way out and with no electricity or phones, communication with the outside world is futile.

Once the party goers have come to terms with the situation, Loren thinks this would be a good time to hand out guns to everyone awesomely presented in tiny coffins. (I want one). This just raises tension and doesn’t bode well for the rest of the evening.

This is how early black and white low budget horrors should be made. Great story, high camp factor and perfect cast. Right from the get-go you pretty much know what you are in for and it doesn’t stop. It’s a great story, very original at the time, totally engrossing and a lot of fun. It has some pretty good jump moments too. My personal favourite being the first time we are introduced to the female care taker (You’ll see).

1999 produced a re-make of this classic and although it was thrown in with the post Scream MTV horror overload such as the likes of Urban Legend, I Know What You Did Last Summer and 13 Ghosts (another Castle re-make), it wasn’t that bad.

I really wish I could have seen this at the pictures when it was first released. William Castle is well known for his great in theatre promotional gimmicks, such as under seat buzzers for The Tingler and had (fake) nurses in the lobby checking peoples blood pressure to make sure they were well enough to watch the features. For this one he used Emergo, where he installed an elaborate pulley system in the theatre which allowed a plastic skeleton to be flown over the audience at the right time. It would have been a blast. The film Matinee staring John Goodman is based on Castle’s career and well worth checking out too.

This House On Haunted Hill T-Shirt really nails the awesome camp factor from the film and some of the classic moments from the film, even the trap door of acid.

The 2nd post in our series of classic horror movie worship by our pal Gavin A Go Go. This is Asylum. Released in 1972

Asylum (AKA House Of Crazies, which I prefer) is a British anthology horror film and one of many made by Amicus Productions. Others include Tales From The Crypt, The Vault Of Horror, From Beyond The Grave and The House that Dripped Blood. It was directed by Roy Wood Baker who is no stranger to horror having also directed Scars of Dracula & Quatermass And The Pit. Scripted by Robert Bloch who’s own short stories were adapted for the screenplay, he was also the writer of the novel Psycho which went on to become the film directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

A young Dr Martin (I Know, right?) has arrived at Dunsmoor Asylum to interview for a position. When he arrives he is expecting to be greeted by a Dr B. Starr, the head of the institution, but instead meets a wheelchair bound (he turned his back on a patient. Idiot) Dr Lionel Rutherford who’s now in charge.

Rutherford goes on to tell the doctor that all the patients at the institution are in fact “incurably insane” and that Dr Starr is now an inmate at the asylum having suffered a mental breakdown and that it was in fact Starr that left him incapacitated. The orderly who looks after the patients reports that Starr is now perfectly rational now but has developed a new personality. (Being disabled he can not check on them himself as the patients reside on the first floor)

Dr Martin says that this can happen from time to time, when people want to escape their current situation and cockily claims to be able to identify such a case. Rutherford calls his bluff and sets the confident doctor a test. There are several other patients with a similar condition and if Dr Martin can pick out which one is Dr Starr, then he will be “considered” for the vacancy.

Martin ascends the stairs and takes in the “art” which so happens to be drawings of past inmates of the institution acting erratically (bit inappropriate). The stairs lead to a locked door. The door is opened by Max Reynolds who welcomes Martin in to a corridor which has Max’s office and two rooms on either side, each of which is a patients confined space where, while being interviewed the residents will tell the story of how they came to be, each in turn.

Frozen Fear
First up is Bonnie (at this point I would like to point out that all the patients names begin with B so as not to give Dr Martin any clues as to who Dr B. Starr is). She tells us her tale of how she and her lover, Walter plotted to kill his wealthy, possessive wife Ruth who studies voodoo, although she claims it’s not voodoo. She returns from one of her sessions with a new bracelet charmed with teeth which apparently will protect her from evil. This just fuels Walters fire as he believes its mumbo jumbo. Walter tells Ruth he has gotten her a gift and leads his wife to the basement. While she admires her brand new freezer (Great gift mate) he give’s her the real present, which leads to terrible repercussions.

The Weird Tailor
The next story comes from Bruno. Bruno was a tailor and recites how poverty lead him to take a tailoring job from a one Mr Smith. After learning that the suit is to be a surprise gift for his son, Smith produces the measurements and material that the suit is to be made of and strict instructions of at what times the suit can be made. These must be “to the letter” as the customer is a keen astrology enthusiast. Bruno says that it will be a lot of work, but Smith will pay him handsomely, so Bruno accepts.

Upon completion of the suit, Bruno delivers it to Smiths home where he learns that he will not be paid until his son tries on the suit as Smith has sold everything he owns to buy a book. Trying to prove his customer wrong, Bruno goes on a hunt, but what he finds is what the suit is really made for, which ends in tragic consequences.

Lucy Comes To Stay.
An agitated Barbara quickly informs us she has a history with the medical profession, she has been incarcerated before. Her yarn starts off with her initial release where she is driven to her home by her brother George. Upon their arrival they are greeted by Miss Higgins a nurse who will be caring for her. This confuses Barbara as she claims she isn’t sick and every order given is met with denial of her condition, but ultimately she complies.

Barbara is told to go to bed and rest which after some fuss she does. Once Miss Higgins is satisfied with her patient, she leaves her to rest and almost immediately receives a telephone call telling her that her elderly mother has been taken to hospital and her attendance is required. George offers to drive Miss Higgins to the train station, leaving Barbara alone, well at least she think she is until her impish and manipulative friend Lucy decides to pay a visit and brings a world of trouble with her.

Mannikins Of Horror
For his final interview Dr Martin meets with a Dr Byron. It is clear from the outset that he has a keen dislike for Dr Rutherford. We learn that he is working on an unusual project where he believes that he can willfully transfer souls into tiny robots with lifelike heads. The one he is currently working on bares a strong resemblance to himself. He goes on to explain that the insides of the toys are organic and a small version of his own viscera. Furious, Dr Martin delivers his verdict that the conditions in which the practice is being run are intolerable, particularly as no help is being offered to rid them of these “fantasies”. He is quickly reminded that Rutherford considers them “incurable” and that Byron is helplessly insane…. or is he…….

I could go on about this flick for a long time, but I feel it would spoil it for those of you who are yet to see it. Having watched films like Creepshow at a really young age I became a huge fan of the anthology sub-genre and really happy to add this to my list as I had never seen it before. (the t-shirt inspired me to watch it). Asylum is not particularly gruesome (unfortunately) but, it is still good fun and reminds me of a The League Of Gentlemen Christmas special. The cast has some familiar faces of horror including the legend that is Peter Cushing and Britt Ekland (Wickerman) as well as a very young Robert Powell. There are so many great bits such as the body parts, climbing toys and Britt Ekland’s accent that it’s hard to pick a favourite storyline. The Asylum T-Shirt design has great depictions of each, but if I had to choose I would say Frozen Fear.Overall this is an enjoyable film and really well thought out, with a great linking story. Highly recommended.

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Welcome to the 1st post in what will become a regular series. Our good friend Gavin A Go Go is a serious fanatic about all things horror so it seemed like a good idea to get him to put his ghoulish knowledge to good use and share some of his thoughts on a wide range of horror classics.

ANY film that opens with a disclaimer offering to pay for funerals if the viewer dies as a result of the films frightening climax, while onscreen a coffin lid opens and inside lays a card reading “Reserved For You”; I’m sold. A classic fright gimmick, such as those of William Castle and I can’t wait for the film to get going.

And this one didn’t fail! A traditional tale of a newly married couple who move in to a house where the husband used to live with his previous and now dead wife (Mysterious accident), then bad things start to happen. Text book.

Jenni (the current wife) who has a history of mental illness (both her parents tragically died) starts to have visions of skulls. Obviously everyone thinks she is going crackers again and that the gardener, who was obsessed with the late wife that is also apparently a spitting image of Jenni’s mother is playing tricks on Jenni, or is he? Oooooooh.

When this film came out it was panned by critics and some of it’s creators. I loved it. As I said its a classic tale which still gets used, like in Candyman. Ok so the overall film is very different, but it still has the same backbone story. I also believe it was the blueprint of more recent blockbusters such as Insidious and The Conjuring, both of which I disliked, but I thought this was great. Yeah the special effects are pretty shoddy (see the skull on the stairs haha), but it was the 50’s and personally I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As the film was made in 1958 there is not much in the way of Merch (trust me I have looked) but what is available is this brilliant classic movie image Screaming Skull T-Shirt which inspired me to watch this flick and also features the promise of a free burial if you die of fright during THE SCREAMING SKULL!!!